# US 11,445,303 B2 · Omnidirectional loudspeaker and compression driver therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,303 B2 - Document ID: US11445303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/072,194 - Filed: 2020-10-16 - Published: 2022-04-21 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-16 - Assignees: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Applicants: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Inventors: Alexander Voishvillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445303B2 ## CPC - H04R 9/063: {using a plurality of acoustic drivers (H04R1/24 and H04R1/403 take precedence)} - H04R 1/30: Combinations of transducers with horns, e.g. with mechanical matching means {, i.e. front-loaded horns}(horns in general G10K; {transducer enclosures or mountings using a back-loaded horn H04R1/2861; application of horns as guiding means to obtain a predetermined directivity characteristic H04R1/345}) - H04R 1/323: {for loudspeakers (H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence)} - H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers} - H04R 7/127: {dome-shaped} - H04R 9/06: Loudspeakers - H04R 2201/34: Directing or guiding sound by means of a phase plug - H04R 2400/13: Use or details of compression drivers - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A compression driver for an omnidirectional loudspeaker includes a motor assembly and a dome diaphragm disposed coaxially above and operably connected to the motor assembly, the diaphragm having a convex surface and a concave surface. The compression driver includes a phasing plug having a top portion and a bottom portion having a concave bottom surface disposed adjacent the convex surface of the diaphragm and defining a compression chamber therebetween. The phasing plug includes a plurality of conduits extending through the bottom portion for sound waves to travel and converging to form an annular exit, the top portion including a plurality of radially expanding channels acoustically connected to the annular exit. Actuation of the diaphragm by the motor assembly generates sound waves within the compression chamber which travel through the annular exit and the radially-expanding channels to create a generally horizontal 360° radiation pattern of the sound waves from the compression driver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compression driver for an omnidirectional loudspeaker, the compression driver comprising: a motor assembly; a dome diaphragm disposed coaxially above and operably connected to the motor assembly, the diaphragm having a convex surface and a concave surface; and a phasing plug having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having a concave bottom surface disposed adjacent the convex surface of the diaphragm and defining a compression chamber therebetween, the phasing plug including a plurality of conduits extending through the bottom portion for sound waves to travel, the plurality of conduits converging to form an annular exit of the compression driver, the top portion including a plurality of radially-expanding channels acoustically connected to the annular exit, wherein actuation of the diaphragm by the motor assembly generates sound waves within the compression chamber which travel through the annular exit and the radially-expanding channels to create a generally horizontal 360° radiation pattern of the sound waves from the compression driver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compression driver of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conduits include concentric annular passages. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compression driver of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conduits each have substantially similar lengths from a first end to a second end thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compression driver of claim 1, wherein the top portion has a central section and a plurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a pair of adjacent arms defines one of the plurality of radially-expanding channels therebetween. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The compression driver of claim 4, wherein an outer edge of the central section is disposed inboard of the annular exit, defining an aperture between each pair of adjacent arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The compression driver of claim 5, wherein each arm has a generally constant width. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compression driver of claim 1, wherein the top portion has a generally constant height above the bottom portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The compression driver of claim 1, wherein the radially-expanding channels have an expanding width in a horizontal plane from the annular exit to a perimeter of the compression driver. ### Claim 9 A compression driver for an omnidirectional loudspeaker, the compression driver comprising: a motor assembly; a dome diaphragm disposed coaxially above and operably connected to the motor assembly, the diaphragm having a convex surface and a concave surface; and a phasing plug having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having a concave bottom surface disposed adjacent the convex surface of the diaphragm and defining a compression chamber therebetween, the phasing plug including a plurality of conduits extending through the bottom portion for sound waves to travel, wherein the plurality of conduits each have substantially similar lengths from a first end to a second end thereof, the plurality of conduits converging to form an annular exit, the top portion including a plurality of radially-expanding channels acoustically connected to the annular exit, wherein actuation of the diaphragm by the motor assembly generates sound waves within the compression chamber which travel through the annular exit and the radially-expanding channels to create a generally horizontal 360° radiation pattern of the sound waves from the compression driver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The compression driver of claim 9, wherein the plurality of conduits include concentric annular passages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The compression driver of claim 9, wherein the top portion has a central section and a plurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a pair of adjacent arms defines one of the plurality of radially-expanding channels therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compression driver of claim 11, wherein an outer edge of the central section is disposed inboard of the annular exit, defining an aperture between each pair of adjacent arms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The compression driver of claim 12, wherein each arm has a generally constant width. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The compression driver of claim 9, wherein the top portion has a generally constant height above the bottom portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The compression driver of claim 9, wherein the radially-expanding channels have an expanding width in a horizontal plane from the annular exit to a perimeter of the compression driver. ### Claim 16 A compression driver for an omnidirectional loudspeaker, the compression driver comprising: a motor assembly; a dome diaphragm disposed coaxially above and operably connected to the motor assembly, the diaphragm having a convex surface and a concave surface; and a phasing plug having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the top portion has a generally constant height above the bottom portion, the bottom portion having a concave bottom surface disposed adjacent the convex surface of the diaphragm and defining a compression chamber therebetween, the phasing plug including a plurality of conduits extending through the bottom portion for sound waves to travel, the plurality of conduits converging to form an annular exit, the top portion including a plurality of radially-expanding channels acoustically connected to the annular exit, wherein actuation of the diaphragm by the motor assembly generates sound waves within the compression chamber which travel through the annular exit and the radially-expanding channels to create a generally horizontal 360° radiation pattern of the sound waves from the compression driver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The compression driver of claim 16, wherein the plurality of conduits include concentric annular passages. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The compression driver of claim 16, wherein the top portion has a central section and a plurality of arms extending outwardly therefrom, wherein a pair of adjacent arms defines one of the plurality of radially-expanding channels therebetween. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The compression driver of claim 18, wherein an outer edge of the central section is disposed inboard of the annular exit, defining an aperture between each pair of adjacent arms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The compression driver of claim 16, wherein the radially-expanding channels have an expanding width in a horizontal plane from the annular exit to a perimeter of the compression driver.